How Vikings fought, and what they fought with.

Vikings were known as violent and ruthless killers. This was not always the case, as there were 4 main groups of fighters. Some were defensive and steady, others were truly violent and ruthless. Weapons such as axes, swords, and spears were the most popular trio of weapons. Axes were popular due to the fact that they had numerous uses such as bashing, slashing, and chopping. Swords were made of iron with steel edges. The sword was double-edged, and relatively lightweight. Spears were the weapon of choice.  They were thrown and were used to stab. They were light weight as well. Hidden weapons such as small daggers would give some Vikings the upper hand in battle, giving them the element of surprise. Their defense was strong, as they used helmets, shields, and sometimes chain mail to protect themselves. Helmets were made of leather or metal, and only had horns on them for religious ceremonies. Shields were wooden, and had painted, leather, or metal designs on the shield. Chain mail was optional protection, but only the wealthier Vikings would purchase chain mail, as it was expensive to make and buy. The non-wealthy Vikings had the option of wearing leather garments on their body.